A Rensselaer County grand jury has opted not to bring charges against two state troopers who shot and killed 38-year-old man they thought was armed and threatening them inside the Berlin State Forest last winter.

Police were called to the Berlin home of Steven J. Bell at 5:38 p.m. Nov. 18 after a 911 caller said that Bell had fired a rifle inside his Hilltop Road Extension home during an alleged domestic dispute and then took off in his vehicle with the gun.

By 6:30 p.m., police found Bell's vehicle in the forest with ammunition inside it. They did not find Bell or the rifle immediately, but when aided by night vision goggles eventually spotted him "approaching the police members," the police statement said.

"(Bell) disregarded all commands to stop and to show his hands and made threatening statements and motioned as if he was bringing a weapon up," the statement said.

The troopers fired with a .223-caliber rifle and a Glock 9mm handgun. The troopers were never named.

Acting District Attorney Arthur Glass confirmed Saturday that a grand jury heard evidence in the case but return a no-bill.

Authorities had gone to Bell's home before for family problems. Bell also has two previous misdemeanor convictions, but police would not provide more information on them.